Pneumatic saddle



(No Model.)

"H. G. STIEBEL, Jr. PNEUMATIG SADDLE.

No. 538,089. Pate'nte-d'ApLZS, 1895.

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HENRY G. STIEBEL, JR., OF S'I. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

PN EUNATIC vSADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 538,089, dated April 23, 1895.

Application tiled August 23, 1894 Serial No. 521.068- (NO modem .To @ZZ wton'z t may con/cenni Be it known that I, HENRY G. STIEBEL, Jr., of the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Saddles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being'had to the accompanying draw-- a saddle which will be provided witha pneumatic or infiatable pad to take the place of the ordinary leather supports now in vogue. By this construction the saddle cannot only be made light, but will in all respects prove a Source of comfort to the animal on which the same is placed.

The invention resides in the special construction of the iniiatable pad, and in the means for securing the same to the saddle proper. p

Referring to the drawings, l represents the ordinary saddle portion, having the hook for the check strap and rings for the reins secured or mounted thereon. Supporting the saddle proper is a pneumatic pad 2 of rubber or similar iniiatable material, its general shape conforming to that of the animal on which it is placed. At its medial reduced portion 3 is attached a nozzle 4 for the reception of an air tube to supply the pad/with air or similar gas. Of course the pad is infiated only sufficiently to assume the general contour of the back of the animal on which the saddle is placed.

The pneumatic pad is composed of the medial reduced portion or passage 3, which communicates with the enlarged lateral chambers 5. By this arrangement the saddle is made to conform to the shape of the animal, and the portion 3 being comparatively narrow its lower edge 6 serves as a partial support for the inner end of the nozzle 4 passed thereinto. Intermediate the pneumatic pad and the saddle proper is interposed a sheet 7 of leather, the same being prevented from being accidentally penetrated by the bolts 8 of the rein rings by the interposition of suitable metallic plates 9 between the inner ends of said bolts and the sheet 7. The sheet 7 extends a short distance beyond the terminal sealed extensions l0 of the pad, and to these ends are secured by stitching the ends of the sheets 1l and 12 of leather and cloth respectively, the said sheets being also secured to the sheet 7 by stitching passing through the same and through the extensions IO of the pad. The several sheets on both sides of the pad are collectively denominated the casing and the manner of securing the casing to the extensions 10 of the pad is important, since, whatever strain or pull may be brought to bear upon the casing, is at the same time communicated to the pad, and any or all wrinkling and unequal expansion of the several sheets are thus avoided, the saddle always presenting a smooth and unwrinkled surface to the back of the animal.

The invention is not limited in its application to any particular kind of saddle, being applicable in general to cart, riding, and similar saddles.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a saddle, a pneumatic pad comprising a medial reduced portion, lateral enlarged chambers communicating with the same, sealed extensions depending from the outer ends of the said chambers, a suitable nozzle inserted into the reduced portion and supported at its inner end by the lower edge of said reduced portion, and a suitable casing surrounding the pad, the ends of the casing and the sealed extensions being jointly secured to the saddle proper to prevent wrinkling and displacement of the parts, substantially as set forth.

2. A saddle comprising a saddle portion proper, a pneumatic pad having medial reduced and lateral enlarged communicating chambers, terminal sealed extensions for the enlarged chambers, a sheet interposed be- IOO tween the saddle proper and the pad, a series and the sheet interposed between the saddle Io of sheets on the opposite side of the pad, said proper and pad, to prevent penetration by the sheets overlapping the sealed extensions, and rein-ring bolts, substantially as set forth. having their free edges and those of the sealed In testimony whereof I affix my signature 5 extensions secured to the Saddle proper, a in the presence of two Witnesses.

nozzle inserted into the reduced chamber and HENRY G. STIEBEL, J R. having its inner end supported by the lower \Vitnesses:

wall or edge of the reduced chamber, and JAMES J. ODONOHOE,

suitable plates located between the saddle C. F. KELLER. 

